With another early start we found ourselves having breakfast shortly after 6 a.m. eating once again al fresco in shorts and short sleeve shirts but glad that it was a little cooler. I was a little concerned about the lengthy journey back north to Swakopmund on the west coast of Namibia but in the end I had no reason to worry as it was a very eventful day.

First we had a good coffee stop at the quaint little town of Solitaire.

Then the most wonderful stop in the countryside where a local man took us out into the desert and told us about how animals and bushman survived in the desert. I cannot praise this visit enough.

The visit was entertaining and informative and the local man used the most amazing pedagogical techniques which would have put any superstar tv production to shame. I certainly now know that the worst thing that can happen to the desert is lots of rain.

Springbok

Oryx

Oryx

Oryx

Zebra

Our driver Immanuel again manoeuvred through the ruts of the gravel road at high speed to ensure we had a safe, smooth and swift journey to the coast and that we did not collide with the various wildlife that we saw en route, such as oryx, springbok and zebra.

Immanuel

Immanuel with his fellow coach driving brother and Julian, our guide – quite a front row.

We had a couple more stops; first as we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and then to see an interesting canyon with sedimentary rocks (including mica. Finally we arrived at the Atlantic coast and stopped at Walvis Bay where we saw some flamingos and a few other birds in the fresh and misty conditions.

Swakopmund was a short distance up the coast where we booked into our quaint German colonial style hotel (with dependable WiFi) and then out for dinner at a lovely seafood restaurant right on the sea front.

Click below for gallery of photos from today:

Cape EWagtail